Chicago residents, experts react to Supreme Court's TPS ruling affecting Haitians, Syrians

CHICAGO (WLS) -- They have started small businesses and work in factories and the healthcare industry: Hundreds of Syrians and Haitians in the Chicago area are living under protected legal status. They now may have to return to their home countries.

Cooking some of Haiti's favorite dishes, family-owned South Side restaurant Lior's Cafe is one of many businesses started by Chicagoans who once called Haiti home. More have come since the 2010 earthquake: Roughly 350,000 Haitians live and work legally in the United States.



"I could name you 50 cities, one per state, where Haitians have set up shop and become contributing members to society in this country," said Patrick Brutus, co-founder of the Haitian American Professional Network.

Sixteen years ago, Haitians were given Temporary Protective Status, known as TPS. The U.S. government has extended it several times because of the Caribbean country's instability. TPS allows people escaping natural disasters, wars and persecuted regimes to work and live in the U.S. legally.



"The government has increasingly asked these groups to accept TPS rather than go through the lengthy refugee process," said Dr. Kathleen Arnold, DePaul University Refugee Enforced Migration director.

But, the Trump administration has sought to end TPS for several countries, including Haiti and Syria. The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority agreed. On Thursday, a ruling ended the status for thousands of people from both countries.

"It's allowing this administration to say, 'you are not welcome here, regardless of what the immigration laws, and regardless of what international laws provide,'" said Fred Tsao, with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Immigration groups say there is no legal recourse for Haitians and Syrians with TPS who now face deportation or must leave on their own, returning to countries that are not considered safe. With so many Haitians who work in the healthcare and service industries in the U.S., advocates predict a big fallout. Haitian Americans say their community is tight-knit and resilient.

"We're here to, like, be here, to be a resource to those, especially for the families that are going to be impacted by it. So, we want to be here to show the compassion and empathy that you're not alone," said Merlyn Jose-Liors Restaurant, with the Daughters of Haiti Organization.



The Trump administration has sought to end TPS for 13 other countries; immigration groups say the Supreme Court opens the door for that to happen.